History of Somalia in Timeline

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is located in the Horn of Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya. It boasts the longest coastline on mainland Africa. Its population is estimated at over 18 million, with 2.7 million residing in the capital, Mogadishu. Ethnically, Somalia is homogenous, with approximately 85% of residents being ethnic Somalis. Somali and Arabic are the official languages, and the majority of the population are Sunni Muslims.

1900: Academic Studies of Somali Language

Academic studies of the Somali language date from before 1900, making it the best documented of the Cushitic languages.

1903: Dervish Victory at Cagaarweyne

In 1903, the Darawiish defeated the Italian, British, Abyssinian colonial powers on numerous occasions, most notably, the victory at Cagaarweyne commanded by Suleiman Aden Galaydh, forcing the British Empire to retreat to the coastal region in the early 1900s.

1909: Jalelo Site Artifacts Characterized

In 1909, the stone implements from the Jalelo site in northern Somalia were characterised as important artefacts demonstrating the archaeological universality during the Paleolithic between the East and the West.

1913: Christian Population

In 1913, during the early part of the colonial era, there were virtually no Christians in the Somali territories, with only about 100–200 followers coming from the schools and orphanages of the few Catholic missions in the British Somaliland protectorate.

1920: Defeat of the Dervishes

In 1920, the Dervishes were finally defeated by British airpower.

December 1923: Arrival of Cesare Maria De Vecchi

On December 15, 1923, Governor Cesare Maria De Vecchi arrived, initiating an aggressive expansion campaign and large construction projects in Italian Somaliland.

1925: Acquisition of Oltre Giuba

In 1925, Italy acquired Oltre Giuba, present-day Jubaland region, which was the last piece of land acquired by Italy in Somalia.

1935: Italian Attack on Abyssinia

In 1935, Fascist Italy, under Benito Mussolini, attacked Abyssinia (Ethiopia) with the aim to colonise it.

1936: Integration into Italian East Africa

In 1936, Italian Somalia was integrated into Italian East Africa, alongside Eritrea and Ethiopia, as the Somalia Governorate.

August 1940: Italian Invasion of British Somaliland

On August 3, 1940, Italian troops, including Somali colonial units, crossed from Ethiopia to invade British Somaliland, and by August 14, succeeded in taking Berbera from the British.

1940: Italian Population in Somaliland

In 1940, there were approximately 50,000 Italians living in Italian Somaliland.

January 1941: British Campaign Launched

In January 1941, a British force launched the campaign from Kenya to liberate British Somaliland and Italian-occupied Ethiopia and conquer Italian Somaliland.

1945: UN Grants Trusteeship to Italy

In 1945, during the Potsdam Conference, the United Nations granted Italy trusteeship of Italian Somaliland as the Trust Territory of Somaliland, on the condition that Somalia achieve independence within ten years.

1948: Return of Haud and Somali Region to Ethiopia

In 1948, under pressure from their World War II allies and to the dismay of the Somalis, the British returned the Haud and the Somali Region to Ethiopia.

1956: Unsuccessful Bid to Buy Back Somali Lands

In 1956, Britain made an unsuccessful bid to buy back the Somali lands it had turned over to Ethiopia.

1958: Djibouti Referendum

In 1958, a referendum was held in neighbouring Djibouti (then known as French Somaliland) to decide whether or not to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France; it turned out in favour of a continued association with France.

June 1960: Independence of British Somaliland

On 26 June 1960, the British Somaliland protectorate obtained independence as the State of Somaliland.

July 1960: Formation of the Somali Republic

On 1 July 1960, the Trust Territory of Somaliland gained independence and the two united to form the Somali Republic.

1960: British Somaliland Independence

British Somaliland remained a protectorate of Britain until 1960.

1960: Independence and Unification

In 1960, Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland united to form the independent Somali Republic under a civilian government.

1960: Decline of Italian Somalis

The number of Italian Somalis began to decline after World War II, with fewer than 10,000 remaining in 1960.

July 1961: Popular Referendum

On 20 July 1961, a popular referendum was ratified by the people of Somalia under Italian trusteeship.

1964: Establishment of Somali Airlines

In 1964, Somali Airlines, the flag carrier of Somalia, was established.

1967: Egal Appointed Prime Minister

In 1967, Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal became Prime Minister, appointed by Shermarke.

1969: Shermarke as President

Abdirashid Ali Shermarke as President of the Somali Republic 1967 to 1969.

1969: Siad Barre Seizes Power

In 1969, Siad Barre of the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) seized power and established the Somali Democratic Republic.

1969: Somalia Founding Member of OIC

In 1969, Somalia became a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

1971: Tree-planting campaign initiated

From 1971 onward, the Siad Barre government introduced a massive tree-planting campaign nationwide to halt the advance of sand dunes.

October 1972: Adoption of Somali Alphabet

In October 1972, the Supreme Revolutionary Council formally introduced the Somali alphabet as the official writing script in Somalia.

1972: End of Private Medical Practice

In 1972, the socialist government of former President Siad Barre put an end to private medical practice in Somalia.

1972: Adoption of Latin Alphabet

With the adoption of the Latin alphabet in 1972, numerous contemporary Somali authors released novels.

February 1974: Joining the Arab League

In February 1974, Somalia joined the Arab League, emphasizing its traditional and religious links with the Arab world.

1975: Population Census

In 1975, the total population of Somalia according to the census was 3.3 million.

July 1976: Establishment of the SRSP

In July 1976, Barre's SRC disbanded itself and established the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), a one-party government based on scientific socialism and Islamic tenets.

1976: Referendum Campaign

Hassan Gouled Aptidon, a Somali campaigned for a 'yes' vote in the referendum of 1976.

July 1977: Outbreak of the Ogaden War

In July 1977, the Ogaden War broke out after Barre's government used a plea for national unity to justify an aggressive incorporation of the predominantly Somali-inhabited Ogaden region of Ethiopia.

September 1977: Somali Forces Control Ogaden

By September 1977, Somali forces controlled 90% of the Ogaden, capturing strategic cities.

1977: Djibouti Independence

Djibouti finally gained independence from France in 1977, and Hassan Gouled Aptidon became Djibouti's first president (1977–1999).

1978: Somali Troops Pushed Out of Ogaden

By 1978, the Somali troops were ultimately pushed out of the Ogaden due to the Soviet intervention.

1979: New Constitution Promulgated

In 1979, a new constitution was promulgated in Somalia under which elections for a People's Assembly were held.

October 1980: Reestablishment of the SRC

In October 1980, the SRSP was disbanded, and the Supreme Revolutionary Council was reestablished in its place.

December 1981: FIBA Africa Championship

From December 15 to 23, 1981, Mogadishu hosted the FIBA Africa Championship 1981, during which the national basketball team received the bronze medal.

1984: IUREP Reports Uranium Resources

In 1984, the IUREP Orientation Phase Mission to Somalia reported that the country had 5,000 tons of uranium reasonably assured resources (RAR), 11,000 tons of uranium estimated additional resources (EAR) in calcrete deposits, as well as 0–150,000 tons of uranium speculative resources (SR) in sandstone and calcrete deposits.

1985: Health Statistics

During the period of 1985-1990, maternal mortality was 1,600 per 100,000 births, infant mortality was 152 per 1,000 births, and there were 3.4 physicians per 100,000 people.

1985: Life Expectancy and Immunization Statistics

During the period of 1985-1990, prior to the outbreak of the conflict, the average life expectancy was 47 years for both men and women, and 30% of one-year-olds were fully immunized against measles.

1986: Establishment of Wildlife Rescue, Research and Monitoring Centre

In 1986, the Wildlife Rescue, Research and Monitoring Centre was established by Ecoterra International to sensitise the public to ecological issues.

1987: First Case Report Year

In 1987, which was the first case report year, the estimated HIV prevalence rate in Somalia was 1% of adults.

1988: Progress of tree-planting campaign

By 1988, 265 hectares of a projected 336 hectares had been treated in the tree-planting campaign, with 39 range reserve sites and 36 forestry plantation sites established.

1988: Bombing of Hargeisa

In 1988, the clampdown included bombing of cities, with the northwestern administrative centre of Hargeisa, a Somali National Movement (SNM) stronghold, among the targeted areas.

1989: Somalia proposal and ban on elephant ivory trade

In 1989, the "Somalia proposal" and a decision by the Somali government to adhere to CITES established a worldwide ban on the trade of elephant ivory.

1989: Absence of Archbishop

Since 1989, there has been no archbishop in Somalia.

1990: Health Statistics

During the period of 1985-1990, maternal mortality was 1,600 per 100,000 births, infant mortality was 152 per 1,000 births, and there were 3.4 physicians per 100,000 people.

1990: Life Expectancy and Immunization Statistics

During the period of 1985-1990, prior to the outbreak of the conflict, the average life expectancy was 47 years for both men and women, and 30% of one-year-olds were fully immunized against measles.

1990: Restrictions and economic hardship in Mogadishu

In 1990, Mogadishu residents faced restrictions on public gatherings, fuel shortages, inflation, and currency devaluation, leading to a thriving black market and strict exchange controls. Night operations by government authorities included "disappearances" of individuals.

1990: GDP per Capita Reduction Since 1990

Somalia's GDP per capita as of 2012 was a slight reduction in real terms from 1990.

May 1991: Somaliland declares independence

In May 1991, following a meeting of the Somali National Movement and northern clans' elders, the northern former British portion of the country declared its independence as the Republic of Somaliland.

1991: Imports Surpass Pre-Civil War Levels

According to the Central Bank of Somalia, imports of goods total about US$460 million per year, surpassing aggregate imports prior to the start of the civil war in 1991.

1991: Collapse of Somalia and Somaliland's Declaration

Following the collapse of Somalia in 1991, there were no relations or contact between the Somaliland government, which declared itself a country, and the government of Somalia.

1991: Collapse of Siad Barre regime

In 1991 the Siad Barre regime collapsed leading to civil war

1991: Aerial assault in Beledwene

In 1991, Barre's regime initiated a ruthless aerial assault in the town of Beledwene, southern Somalia, resulting in numerous deaths.

1991: International conference on Somalia held in Djibouti.

In 1991, a multi-phased international conference on Somalia was held in Djibouti. Owing to the legitimacy bestowed on Muhammad by the Djibouti conference, he was subsequently recognised by the international community as the new President of Somalia.

1991: Destruction of State-Owned Manufacturing Firms

Prior to the outbreak of the civil war in 1991, the roughly 53 state-owned small, medium and large manufacturing firms were failing. The ensuing conflict destroyed many of the remaining industries.

1991: Civil War and Absence of Monetary Authority

Somalia had no central monetary authority for more than 15 years between the outbreak of the civil war in 1991 and the subsequent reestablishment of the Central Bank of Somalia.

1991: Collapse of the SRC

The Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) collapsed in 1991, marking the onset of the Somali Civil War.

1991: Disbandment of Somali National Army

The outbreak of the civil war in 1991 led to the disbandment of the Somali National Army.

1991: Collapse of Federal Government

Until the collapse of the federal government in 1991, the healthcare sector's structure was overseen by the Ministry of Health, with centralized healthcare.

1993: Addis Ababa Agreement

In 1993, the Addis Ababa Agreement was made at the Conference on National Reconciliation.

1994: CIA Estimates Somali GDP

In 1994, the CIA estimated Somalia's GDP at US$3.3 billion.

1998: Nuruddin Farah Receives Neustadt Prize

In 1998, Nuruddin Farah received the Neustadt international prize for Literature.

1999: End of Hassan Gouled Aptidon's Presidency

Djibouti's first president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, ended his term in 1999.

1999: Horn Relief coordinates peace march

In 1999, Horn Relief coordinated a peace march in the northeastern Puntland region of Somalia to put an end to the so-called "charcoal wars".

May 2000: Establishment of the Transitional National Government (TNG)

In May 2000, the Transitional National Government (TNG) was established at the Somalia National Peace Conference in Arta, Djibouti. Abdiqasim Salad Hassan was selected as President.

2000: Road Network Status

As of 2000, Somalia's road network consisted of 2,608 km of paved streets and 19,492 km of unpaved streets, out of a total of 22,100 km.

2000: Measles Immunization Rate

Between 1985-1990 and 2000-2005, the number of one-year-olds fully immunized against measles rose from 30% to 40%.

2000: Puntland government prohibits charcoal exportation

In 2000, the Puntland government prohibited the exportation of charcoal as a result of Jibrell's lobbying and education efforts.

2000: Establishment of the TNG

In 2000, the Transitional National Government of Somalia (TNG) was established.

2000: Maternal Mortality Rate

In the 2000–2005 period, maternal mortality per 100,000 births fell from 1,600 in the pre-war 1985–1990 half-decade to 1,100.

2001: CIA Estimates Somali GDP

In 2001, the CIA estimated Somalia's GDP to be US$4.1 billion.

2002: Fatima Jibrell awarded Goldman Environmental Prize

In 2002, Fatima Jibrell was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts against environmental degradation and desertification.

December 2003: End of the Transitional National Government mandate

In December 2003, the mandate of the Transitional National Government ended due to internal problems and reported bankruptcy.

October 2004: Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed elected President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

On 10 October 2004, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was elected as the first President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

November 2004: Adoption of the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC)

In November 2004, the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) was adopted by the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP).

December 2004: Tsunami stirs up toxic waste allegations

Following the tsunami of December 2004, allegations emerged that Somalia's shoreline was used as a dump site for toxic waste, stirred up by the waves.

2004: Coca-Cola Bottling Plant Opens

In 2004, a US$8.3 million Coca-Cola bottling plant opened in Mogadishu, with investors hailing from various constituencies in Somalia.

2004: Catholic Practitioners Estimate

In 2004, the Diocese of Mogadishu estimated that there were only about one hundred Catholic practitioners in Somalia.

2004: Formation of the TFG

In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) was formed, leading to the reestablishment of the Somali Armed Forces.

2004: Reconstitution of Military in Motion

In 2004, the gradual process of reconstituting the Somali military was put in motion with the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

2004: Estimated HIV Prevalence Rate

Since 2004, estimates from 0.7% to 1.0% have been assumed for the HIV prevalence rate in Somalia.

2005: Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation

According to a 2005 World Health Organization estimate, about 97.9% of Somalia's women and girls underwent female genital mutilation.

2005: Estimated Urbanization Rate

Between 2005 and 2010, Somalia experienced an estimated urbanization rate of 4.8% per annum.

2005: Health Statistics

Between 2005 and 2010, as compared to the 1985-1990 period, infant mortality per 1,000 births fell from 152 to 109.6.

2005: Life Expectancy and Immunization Statistics

Comparing the 2005–2010 period with the half-decade just prior to the outbreak of the conflict (1985–1990), life expectancy actually increased from an average of 47 years for men and women to 48.2 years for men and 51 years for women.

2005: Inter-Connectivity Deal Signed by Telecom Companies

In 2005, several Somali telecommunications companies signed an inter-connectivity deal that allows them to set prices, maintain and expand their networks, and ensure that competition does not get out of control.

2006: Ethiopian Invasion

At the end of 2006, a US-backed Ethiopian invasion overthrew the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), leading to the installation of the TFG in Mogadishu under an Ethiopian military occupation.

2006: Islamic Courts Union (ICU) assumes control

In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) took control of much of southern Somalia for 6 months and imposed Shari'a law.

January 2007: TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed enters Mogadishu

On 8 January 2007, TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed entered Mogadishu with Ethiopian military support, marking the first time since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991 that the federal government controlled most of the country.

2007: Private Sector Growth Reported

According to a 2007 British Chambers of Commerce report, the private sector in Somalia had grown, particularly in the service sector, due to investment from the Somali diaspora.

2007: Electricity Largely Supplied by Local Businesses

In 2007, electricity in Somalia was largely supplied by local businesses, according to the World Bank.

2007: Al-Shabaab insurgency begins

Throughout 2007, Al-Shabaab opposed the Ethiopian military's presence in Somalia and began an insurgency against the TFG.

June 2008: Peace talks in Djibouti

Between 31 May and 9 June 2008, representatives of Somalia's federal government and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) participated in peace talks in Djibouti, resulting in an agreement for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops.

December 2008: Yusuf resigns as President of Somalia

On 29 December 2008, Yusuf announced his resignation as President of Somalia, citing his failure to end the country's conflict and blaming the international community's lack of support.

2008: Percentage of Population in Urban Areas

As of 2008, 37.7% of Somalia's population lived in towns and cities.

2008: Ethiopian Army Driven Out

By late 2008, the insurgency had driven the Ethiopian army out of much of Somalia.

2008: Jibrell wins National Geographic Society/Buffett Foundation Award

In 2008, Fatima Jibrell also won the National Geographic Society/Buffett Foundation Award for Leadership in Conservation.

2008: Establishment of Merchant Marine

In 2008, Somalia established a cargo-based merchant marine.

2008: Puntland Government Signs Deal with Lootah Group

In 2008, the Puntland government signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Dubai's Lootah Group to operate, manage, and build Bosaso's free trade zone and sea and airport facilities. The first phase of the investment is worth Dhs 170 m.

2008: Al-Shabaab military victories

Throughout 2008, Al-Shabaab scored military victories, seizing control of key towns and ports in central and southern Somalia.

January 2009: Ethiopian troops retreat, Al-Shabaab gains control

By January 2009, Al-Shabaab and other militias had forced the Ethiopian troops to retreat.

February 2009: TFG counteroffensive begins

In February 2009, the TFG began a counteroffensive to assume full control of the southern half of the country.

March 2009: TFG announces reimplementation of Shari'a

In March 2009, the TFG announced that it would reimplement Shari'a as the nation's official judicial system as a truce.

2009: CIA Estimates Somali GDP Growth

By 2009, the CIA estimated that Somalia's GDP had grown to US$5.731 billion, with a projected real growth rate of 2.6%.

2009: New TFG Government Established

In 2009, a new TFG government was established in Somalia.

2009: Reestablishment of Central Bank

The Central Bank of Somalia was reestablished in 2009 after being absent since the civil war.

November 2010: Relaunch of Somalia's Internet Domain

On November 1, 2010, Somalia's internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD), .so, was officially relaunched by .SO Registry, which is regulated by the nation's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

2010: Christian Population

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2010, Christians represented less than 0.1% of Somalia's population.

2010: Adherents of Folk Religions

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2010, less than 0.1% of Somalia's population were adherents of folk religions.

2010: Estimated Urbanization Rate

Between 2005 and 2010, Somalia experienced an estimated urbanization rate of 4.8% per annum.

2010: Health Statistics

Between 2005 and 2010, as compared to the 1985-1990 period, infant mortality per 1,000 births fell from 152 to 109.6.

2010: Life Expectancy and Immunization Statistics

2010: Electricity Production and Consumption

In 2010, Somalia produced 310 million kWh and consumed 288.3 million kWh of electricity.

2010: Adherents of Other Religions or Unaffiliated

In 2010, according to the Pew Research Center, less than 0.1% of Somalia's population were adherents of Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or unaffiliated with any religion.

2010: Trans-National Industrial Electricity and Gas Company

In 2010, the Trans-National Industrial Electricity and Gas Company, uniting five major Somali companies, was formed following a joint agreement in Istanbul to provide electricity and gas infrastructure in Somalia, with an initial investment of $1 billion.

April 2011: Somali National Television Relaunch

On April 4, 2011, Somali National Television, the principal national public service TV channel, was officially relaunched after a twenty-year hiatus. Its radio counterpart, Radio Mogadishu, also broadcasts from the capital.

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October 2011: Operation Linda Nchi begins

In October 2011, Operation Linda Nchi, a coordinated operation between the Somali and Kenyan militaries, began against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.

2011: Uncertainty of Proven Oil Reserves

As of 2011, the CIA asserts that there are no proven reserves of oil in Somalia.

July 2012: European Union operations launched in Somalia

In July 2012, three European Union operations were launched to engage with Somalia: EUTM Somalia, EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa, and EUCAP Nestor.

August 2012: New Constitution and Government

In August 2012, a new provisional constitution was passed, reforming Somalia as a federation and the Federal Government of Somalia was formed, beginning a period of reconstruction in Mogadishu.

August 2012: Establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia

In August 2012, the Federal Government of Somalia, the first permanent central government since the civil war, was established.

August 2012: End of the Transitional Federal Government's tenure

In August 2012, the Transitional Federal Government's tenure officially ended.

August 2012: Adoption of the Provisional Constitution

On 1 August 2012, the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia was adopted by a National Constitutional Assembly in Mogadishu.

September 2012: Kismayo captured from Al-Shabaab

By September 2012, Somali, Kenyan, and Raskamboni forces had captured Kismayo, Al-Shabaab's last major stronghold.

2012: UNAIDS Report on HIV Prevalence

A 2012 report from UNAIDS states that since 2004, estimates from 0.7% to 1.0% have been assumed for the HIV prevalence rate in Somalia.

2012: Somalia's GDP per Capita in 2012

According to the Central Bank of Somalia, the country's GDP per capita as of 2012 was US$226.

2012: Federal Parliament Tasked with Selecting Regional States

In 2012, the Federal Parliament of Somalia was tasked with selecting the ultimate number and boundaries of the autonomous regional states within the Federal Republic of Somalia.

2012: Preparations to Relaunch Somali Airlines

In 2012, the reconstituted Somali government began preparations for an expected relaunch of Somali Airlines.

2012: Ministry of Defence Formed

In mid-2012, the Somali Armed Forces are now overseen by the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia.

2012: Founding of Somalia Stock Exchange

The Somalia Stock Exchange (SSE) was founded in 2012 to attract investment from both Somali-owned firms and global companies in order to accelerate the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process in Somalia.

January 2013: Reopening of National Intelligence Service

In January 2013, the Somali federal government reopened the national intelligence service in Mogadishu, renaming the agency the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

August 2013: Establishment of Ministry of Human Rights

In August 2013, the Ministry of Human Rights was established in Somalia, guaranteeing human rights in the Federal Constitution.

November 2013: Reconstitution of Somali Postal Service

In November 2013, the federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications officially reconstituted the Somali Postal Service (Somali Post), following a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Emirates Post in April of the year.

December 2013: Expected Delivery of New Aircraft

By the end of December 2013, the first new Somali Airlines aircraft was scheduled for delivery.

December 2013: Prohibition of Christian Festivities

In December 2013, the Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs released a directive prohibiting the celebration of Christian festivities in the country.

2013: United Nations Population Fund Survey

A United Nations Population Fund survey conducted in 2013 estimated the total population of Somalia to be 12,316,895.

2013: Decrease in Female Genital Mutilation

By 2013, UNICEF reported that the prevalence rate of female genital mutilation among 1- to 14-year-old girls in Puntland and Somaliland had dropped to 25%.

2013: Taekwondo Challenge Cup

In 2013, Faisal Jeylani Aweys and Mohamed Deq Abdulle of the national taekwondo team achieved silver medal and fourth place, respectively, at the Open World Taekwondo Challenge Cup in Tongeren.

2013: Formation of National Bandy Team

In 2013, a Somalia national bandy team was formed in Borlänge.

March 2014: Somali Shilling Appreciates Significantly

By March 2014, the Somali shilling had appreciated by almost 60% against the U.S. dollar over the previous 12 months, becoming the strongest among the 175 global currencies traded by Bloomberg.

August 2014: Operation Indian Ocean launched

In August 2014, the Somali government-led Operation Indian Ocean was launched against insurgent-held pockets in the countryside.

October 2014: Relaunch of Postal Delivery from Abroad

In October 2014, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications relaunched postal delivery from abroad.

2014: United Nations Population Fund Survey

A United Nations Population Fund survey conducted in 2014 estimated the total population of Somalia to be 12,316,895.

2014: Participation in Bandy World Championship

In 2014, the Somalia national bandy team participated in the Bandy World Championship.

2014: Establishment of South West State

In 2014, the South West State was established as another autonomous region within the federation of Somalia.

2014: Fertility Rate Estimate

In 2014, the total fertility rate of Somalia was estimated to be 6.08 children born per woman, the fourth highest in the world, according to the CIA World Factbook.

March 2015: Establishment of Game Reserves and Wildlife Ranges

As of March 2015, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of the South West State announced plans to establish additional game reserves and wildlife ranges.

April 2015: Formation Conference for Hirshabelle State Launched

In April 2015, a formation conference was launched for the new Hirshabelle State in Somalia.

2019: Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Renounces US Citizenship

In 2019, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the former president of Somalia, voluntarily renounced his US citizenship.

October 2020: UN Investigator Raises Human Rights Concerns

On 3 October 2020, a UN human rights investigator raised concerns over Somali government's backtracking of human rights commitments.

2021: Start of severe drought

In 2021, Somalia experienced its most severe drought in 40 years, which lasted until 2023, affecting 7.8 million people.

2021: Estimated Population

In 2021, Somalia had an estimated population of around 17.1 million inhabitants.

2023: Somalia's Democracy Ranking

According to the 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices, Somalia is the 5th least democratic country in Africa.

2023: End of severe drought

In 2023, Somalia experienced its most severe drought in 40 years, from 2021, affecting 7.8 million people.

2025: Somaliland recognized by Israel

In 2025, Somaliland was recognized by Israel.

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